Sparfloxacin

Who is Sparfloxacin for ?

Sparfloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Sparfloxacin is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

When should I be careful taking Sparfloxacin ?

Before taking Sparfloxacin,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Sparfloxacin, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), enoxacin (Penetrex), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), cinoxacin (Cinobac), nalidixic acid (NegGram), erythromycin, or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other antibiotics, anticoagulants ("blood thinners") such as warfarin (Coumadin), cancer chemotherapy agents, cimetidine (Tagamet), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), phenytoin (Dilantin), probenecid (Benemid), sucralfate (Carafate), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.
• do not take with antacids (Mylanta, Maalox), iron or zinc supplements, or vitamins that contain iron or zinc. Take them 2 hours before or 4 hours after Sparfloxacin.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease, epilepsy, colitis, stomach problems, vision problems, heart disease, or history of stroke.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Sparfloxacin, call your doctor immediately.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Sparfloxacin.
• plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Sparfloxacin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
• you should know that this drug may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and tiredness. Do not drive a car or work on dangerous machines until you know how Sparfloxacin will affect you.

Sparfloxacin Side Effects

Although side effects from Sparfloxacin are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• upset stomach
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• stomach pain
• headache
• restlessness

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• skin rash
• itching
• hives
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of the face or throat
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• dark urine
• pale or dark stools
• blood in urine
• unusual tiredness
• sunburn
• seizures or convulsions
• vaginal infection
• vision changes
• pain, inflammation, or rupture of a tendon